Today is the day we have our emphasis on...

... the ministries here at Life Church (Parade of Ministries). We do not parade them in front of you like we used to but they will be highlighted on the overhead. Since we have been emphasizing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we will discuss how that experience with the Spirit can help you in the fulfillment of whatever ministry you are involved.

1. You shall receive power. Holy Spirit is needed, not just to be a witness, but for power to fulfill your ministry or calling. We acknowledge Holy Spirit gives us power to witness but He also gives us power to teach, to disciple, and to accomplish the second half of the Great Commission in helping us to make disciples. 

2. Holy Spirit baptism makes a difference. D L Moody was transformed by his encounter with the Spirit. Moody – My heart was not in the work of begging. I could not appeal. I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York—oh, what a day! I cannot describe it. I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. I can only say that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different. I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world. 

3. Holy Spirit power manifested. Mark 16:15-20 (NKJV) “And He (Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Notice that when we do what God calls us to do, He will be working with us through the power of Holy Spirit. Invite Him every day into your life and ministry, then, watch what He does!

I normally parallel my article with the Sunday morning sermon but...

... today I felt Holy Spirit would have me share from my Wednesday night sermon. If you miss Wednesday nights, you are missing an opportunity to be blessed and to grow in your faith. We are all familiar with the story about Peter being locked up in prison and how the angel came to rescue him. The message is more about the church praying than it is about angels. Acts 12:5-7 (NKJV) ^“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.” What happens when we pray sincerely?

1. When people pray in sincerity something from heaven shows up. There was an angel…a light showed up in the prison. When we pray here on earth, God responds from heaven. We have not because we ask not. We need something supernatural from God. Too much of what we have today has the smell of human instead of the touch of heaven. Maybe you are here needing something from heaven…pray until heaven shows up!

2. When people pray in sincerity God wakes people up. When the angel came to Peter, what did he do? He smote him in the side and woke him up. When God’s people pray…God wakes up those who are sleeping. Do you know anyone like that? People are sleeping…we must pray until they wake up. Our son was sleeping. We had to pray until he woke up. We had to call until God answered…until Josh responded.

3. When people pray in sincerity chains fall off. Chains are restrictive. If you have chains on your legs, you can’t run. When we pray personally we find a freedom we did not have before. A new ability or freedom to witness…no longer restricted. When we pray God sets people free. Listen, your prodigal can’t be worse off than Peter. I know with the opioid crisis we wonder if they can be free. They can! Pray! I was there before it was popular.

4. When people pray doors are opened. Pastor, the door is not opening…pray! There’s a battle! Pray! 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” When God’s people pray…doors are opened just like for Peter. God opened the door and set him free. We don’t need a battering ram…we do not need to force it…God will open the door. Pray!